Public Sees Afghanistan as Threat, but Support for the War Drops

While most Americans believe Afghanistan remains a major threat to U.S. security, support for the war there has dropped, and a majority oppose sending more troops, according to two polls released Tuesday.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted Sept. 10-15 says that while 76 percent of those polled believe it would pose a major threat if the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan, support for keeping NATO and U.S. troops in the country has fallen from a 57 percent to 38 percent margin in June to 50 percent to 43 percent now, a drop of seven points in the support column.

Republicans are strongest in support for keeping troops there, 71 percent to 25 percent. Independents back keeping troops in the country by a narrower 51 percent to 43 percent, a drop in support of 6 points since the last poll. Democrats want troops removed by a 56 percent to 37 percent margin, a net loss of support of eight points compared to June.

The public gives the U.S. efforts in Afghanistan middling marks. Americans believe by 51 percent to 28 percent that the U.S. is making progress in training Afghan security forces, but the numbers fall below 50 percent for promoting economic development, establishing democracy, defeating the Taliban militarily and reducing civilian casualties.

A Fox News/Opinion Dynamic poll conducted Sept. 15-16 says voters approve of President Obama's handling of Afghanistan by 51 percent to 32 percent, but they split on support for the war with 46 percent backing it compared to 45 percent who oppose it. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Democrats oppose the war 62 percent to 33 percent, Republicans support it by 66 percent to 26 percent as do independents by 47 percent to 41 percent.

As for the request for additional troops from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan, 50 percent oppose an increase and 41 percent support it. Republicans favor granting McChrystal's request by 58 percent to 31 percent but on this question, independents join Democrats in opposition. Independents say no by 58 percent to 35 percent and Democrats by 62 percent to 30 percent.

But similarly to the Pew poll, Fox found that voters by a strong margin agree that "the military action taken in Afghanistan is necessary to protect Americans from having to fight terrorists on U.S. soil." Fifty-eight percent endorsed that view compared to 33 percent who disagreed. Along partisan lines, Democrats agreed by 49 percent to 42 percent, Republicans by 73 percent to 21 percent and independents by 55 percent to 35 percent.